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Thursday
Nov202008

D.I.Y. Eco-Happy Pom Pom Gift Topper

Last Holiday season I became obsessed with making yarn pom poms.  They are perfect as garlands, ornaments, gift toppers, and more! 
Today I am super excited to share a cool twist on the standard pom pom (I dreamt this up while driving the other day)... plastic grocery bag pom pom gift toppers


I know.... it sounds crazy.  But what better way to reuse something as benign as a grocery bag, then to give it new life by turning it into something fabulous for adorning your holiday gifts!

If you are not familiar with the basic steps to creating a pom pom, then first check out this short video I found on YouTube.  Disregard the scruffiness of the end result... and the fact that she is using yarn.  It is only the process that you will need to be familiar with.

Okay... here you go:

You will need: * 1 plastic grocery bag (per pom pom) * pair of sharp scissors * 5-10 minutes of free time *

Step 1. Lay your shopping bag flat and cut both handles off.  Set handles aside for later.  Cut the bottom off of your bag.  Cut just enough so that you are left with a tube of plastic (open at both ends).  Open your bag and cut down both of the side seams (this will create two squares of plastic).

Step 2. Starting at one edge, cut around your plastic square in a continuous line (as shown in the picture).  Don't worry about making it super straight or even.  Repeat with your second plastic square.  You will end up with two long strips of plastic (they will be all crooked... but that's okay).

Step 3.  Starting with one of the strips (I chose the white plastic first so that the red would stand out at the end.  Yours will look differently depending upon what your bag looks like), begin wrapping the plastic around four of your fingers using your thumb to keep it steady as you wrap it around. (see photo).  Repeat with your last plastic strip.

Step 4. Carefully tie one of the handles (that you cut off in step one), around the entire bundle of plastic securing with a double knot.  You may want to knot it more than one time.  The ends of the plastic handle that you used to tie your bundle with will be hanging loose.  Do not cut these.

Step 5.  Take your scissors (the sharper and pointier the better) and cut through the loops that were formed when you wrapped the plastic around your hand.  These might be hard to see and will probably be all bunched together at this point.  (if this step is not making sense, refer to the video I link to above.  It's easier to see with yarn).

Step 6 + 7. Once all the loops have been cut, grasp the two long ends (that you didn't cut because you followed the instruction above) in one of your hands.  Gently shake your pom pom to fluff it up a bit.  You can also use your other hand to re-arrange things to your liking.  You may like the untamed version at this point... which means you can stop now.  Or if you want something a little more groomed, begin cutting around your pom pom with your scissors (give it a haircut)... trimming any pieces that stick out or that make it lopsided.

Step 8. Once you have it trimmed to your liking you are done!  Yay!  You can tie pom poms to your gifts using the two long pieces that you left uncut.  Or trim the long ends and string a bunch of these together for a garland or attach them to a wreath form for some festive decor!

Eco-bonus: Try wrapping smaller gifts in the paper from brown grocery bags!

Coming up next... the first installment of the Creature Comforts' Holiday Gift Guide! xo Ez

References (1)

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Reader Comments (88)

wow! so clever, and so pretty! I will be trying this out immediately!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAnnaRuby
This is genius! And it looks fantastic. Well done!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenternichole
i love it! thank you for sharing. going to try it out.
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRJ
great idea ez!! it's cute & makes use of those horrible bags. i always try to say "no bag please". but sometimes i forget and poof! it's in a bag. now i have a use for them. great. on a side note..isn't it the worst when you bring your own bag, the bagger doesn't see it or hear you and puts your stuff in plastic. than you stop them & say you brought your own, they take your stuff out put it in your bag & then they throw the plastic bag away because it is "used". what!?!! i was trying to do good. obviously, i have many feelings about these bags & thank you for helping the problem with cuteness.
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commentersarah
This is a brilliant idea!I'll have to try it out for my first craft show!!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTiffany
such a great idea! it was definitely worth the time :-)
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterrachel best
What a great idea! I can't wait to try it!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterHeidi
How fun!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterTartelette
Oh how BEAUTIFUL! I love these SO much! I'll be linking.
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRachel
Ok, that is just REDONKULOUSLY fabulous. I have a mountain of plastic bags (in the Guilt Corner of my kitchen) so now I am psyched to try this out...thank you!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterP.
ez, these are awesome!!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterjess gonacha
Brilliance. Sheer brilliance.
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSal
so creative and looks so great....love the use of the target bag
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermichelle@bluemoss
I *heart* yarn pom poms and cannot wait to try these! :)
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterDenise
This is such a simple idea and they look so pretty!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterjeska
looks like fun, affordable and terrific on a finished wrap... good one and thanks for sharing a GREAT idea
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSteffen
PS: = love your blog
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterSteffen
What a cute idea!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterjenny b harris
That is fabulous! Who'da thunk Target bags could be so classy!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMizSmoochie
I am with P above! This is just "RE-DONKULOUSLY" adorable, brilliant and super fantastic! YAY! I am doing this for sure!xoMelis
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMelissa de la Fuente
Ez!!! Seriously, this is brilliant. Thank you. I think I'm going to go put plastic pom poms on all my pets. I'm sure they'll love it ;)
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterClementine
I can not handle how cute this idea is! I am so excited to make some for christmas gifts!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterheather
Thanks for the tutorial Ez! the pom-poms look so cute -- like topping on a cupcake! :)
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterPikaland
awesome!!! thanks!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterfeisty touriest
this is fantastic. Right now i use my left over bags (when i accept them) to stuff terrarium packages. But this will be a far more fun way to use my bags!
November 20, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterchrisi

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